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by jeanie marie kraft, L.Ac.

One of the most important things you can do to help calm your dog is to calm down yourself first. Take a deep breath,listen to soothing music and show him you are relaxed. Remember,your dog looks to you for clues that suggest when it is time to worry and when it is time to relax.

Causes of Stress in Dogs
• hunger
• thirst
• loud
• noises (thunder,fireworks,music)
• changing residence
• pain or discomfort
• vet visits
• changes in domestic life
• new baby or other pet
• owner’s stress

Make sure your dog is comfortable.Is he warm enough? Does he have a cozy place to sleep? Is he bothered by loud excessive noise or music that you could control? Remember, a dog’ s hearing is much sharper and more sensitive than ours. What is an annoying level of noise to you may be stressful and even harmful to your dog.

Research has shown that exercise and fresh air are among the best stress reducers and mood enhancers for humans and animals.Take your dog for a nice walk every day.You will both benefit.

Praise your dog.Tell him how much you love him.Your secrets are safe with your dog – tell her everything! Build a bond of trust and love.

A favorite stress reducing remedy for humans and pets is Bach Flower Rescue Remedy.This combination of five flower essences is a must-have for pets and owners. It is excellent to give before taking the pet to the vet, after a trauma, when the pet is not quite well, or after an accident or sudden stress.The remedy can be given by mouth,which is the most effective method;it doesn’t interfere with medication or have negative side effects. Pet owners can also take rescue remedy (available in natural food and vitamin stores). A long walk is good for physical and mental health.

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MASS with veterinary acupuncture house-calls. Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

Suddenly paralyzed, Rufus doggedly learns to walk again
By Sharon L. Peters, USA TODAY

One year ago this week, my big old Rufus walked again.

It may seem odd that I’d comment on a dog walking. But for weeks he had been paralyzed from the shoulders back. And there was some possibility he’d remain that way.

This is a story about how we don’t always know our pets as well as we think we do. They can draw on reserves we never knew existed and teach lessons in bravery and determination we never expected. It is the tale of a stray dog who landed where he was loved, and developed the fierceness of a lion when asked.

The Saturday before Christmas 2007, Rufus, the malamute/shepherd mix I’d adopted three years earlier from the shelter, was suddenly, inexplicably paralyzed from his shoulders back. Without warning, his rear legs had simply gone limp as noodles as he played in the snow. No movement. No feeling. Vet visits and discussions with a vet neurology specialist diagnosed it as a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), which is, essentially, a spinal cord stroke.

It can happen (for reasons not fully understood) to any dog or breed, but it tends to hit giant or large-breed dogs most often. Depending on where the blockage occurs, a dog can lose a little or all function in one or both legs. Rufus was on the extreme end of function loss — it was both legs and total loss — but he wasn’t as bad as some, as he wasn’t incontinent. About 70% to 80% of afflicted dogs improve; not many get back 100% functionality.

Patience was prescribed. And if we were lucky, he’d regain some or a lot of his ability to walk.
Some experts believe that acupuncture and water therapy can speed the regaining of whatever can be regained and may also usher in a greater level of final-stage functionality. This, however, isn’t a universal belief.

I decided to pursue the more aggressive approach. Rufus is an 85-pounder, so hauling him up and down the porch steps and propping him up to do his business had to end as fast as possible. Also, he’s a dog who had been happiest when walking — 4, 5, and 6 miles a day had been our norm. Moreover, he was now panicked whenever left alone in a room — understandable, given how helpless he must have felt. So getting him ambulatory was crucial.

Still, I really didn’t think he possessed the fight he’d probably need to muscle through all this, and I imagined I’d let him persuade me to drop out of the aggressive approach quickly.
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To learn more how acupuncture can help your dog visit www.fourpawsacupuncture.com

Warming Recipe for your Dog

We all know there is nothing like a nice warm home cooked meal on a cold winter night. Here is a recipe for those dogs who suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia and other ailments made worse by the cold damp.

This is the recipe I used for my dog Merlin, a German Shepherd who suffered from hip dysplasia. He received regular acupuncture treatments, took Chinese herbs and had home-cooked congee for his meals. Merlin lived to be almost 15 years old.

Recipe for Merlin’s Magic Congee

Grains should be thoroughly cooked for animals, as they don’t really chew their food. Congee is a Chinese dish made from rice, meat and vegetables that is slow cooked and easy to digest

In a crock pot or heavy pot with lid add:

* 5 cups of spring or filtered (not tap) water or free-range chicken broth.
* 1 cup of grain.
* Several pieces of frozen or fresh organic chicken or turkey.
* 1 cup or more of chopped or frozen veggies such as carrots, celery, sweet potato, yams, parsley,string beans.

Use brown rice during the cold winter months. Use white basmati rice for spring or summer.

If cooking in a crock pot, set on low and cook for 4-6 hours. If using a heavy pot on the stove, set the flame or electric burner on the lowest setting, and cook for 4-6 hours.

The Chinese New Year of the Ox, 2009 will fall on Monday, January 26th and marks the beginning of 15 days of festivities going on until the 9th of February. The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. A good omen for this year.

For good fortune wear red that day! Greet everyone with Gung Hay Fat Choy” which means “Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth”.

To read more about Chinese New Year visit the wikipedia

Jeanie Marie Kraft, L.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with veterinary acupuncture house-calls. For more information please Four Paws Acupuncture

For Sore Paws

Cloud Nine Herbal Healing Salve by HALO

Helps support healing for cuts, wounds, abrasions, and scabby areas within days. Also helps soothe hot spots.

This product can be found most pet stores that carry Halo products. If you live in Salem, MA visit The Barking Cat for Halo products.

www.halopets.com
This is not a paid endorsement.

Paw Guard

Help protect your dog’s paw pads from drying and cracking due to ice, snow, and salt and other hard surfaces. Made with lanolin to help restore lost moisture to pads. Good to use all year round as needed.

Visit the Handicapped Pets website for more information on this and other products to help your pets stay dry this winter.

THIS IS NOT A PAID ENDORSEMENT!

Four Paws Acupuncture is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with mobile veterinary acupuncture house-calls. FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

For all of you who feed your dogs peanut butter biscuits please note the following recall news.
I would advise not giving your dog any peanut butter products while this scare in on. There are several great brands of dog cookies that are free of wheat, corn and soy that are much healthier for your dog such as Solid Gold Cinnabones or the Wellness Ocean fish and sweet potato cookies.

Pet Food Recall: Peanut Butter Salmonella Scare, Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits

By Karen Diaz
Jan 21, 2009
www.nationalledger.com

The peanut butter scare is now moving towards pet food items for dogs and there is now a voluntar pet food recall involving dog treats as well. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, at least one company has a recall on dog food and biscuits that contain peanut paste.

The pet food recall includes PetSmart Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit products.

In a release PetSmart noted that even though they were not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products they would go ahead and voluntarily put out the order to recall the items that contain the peanut paste.

The recalled products include packages ranging in size from 32 ounces to 10 pounds, sold between Aug. 21, 2008, and Jan. 19, 2009. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

The list:

Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900

Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601

Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605

Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755

Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638

Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779

Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766

“Belle (Bellie) is a 12 year old German Shepherd rescued from a shelter. Over the last 6 months her hips have started to bother her. She started to fall while chasing the ball, and was in obvious distress getting up from a lying down position. Going up and down the stairs have become a chore and she can no longer get up on the bed.

This winter has been particularly difficult for Bellie. She can no longer bound through the snow or gracefully walk on the ice, leaving her with back legs that are shaking and in pain. The pained expression on her face was visible. Her vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication that made her sick after one dose. She suggested a different medication as well as acupuncture. Bellie was able to tolerate the new medication and it seemed to be helping her with the pain, but also appeared to make her lethargic.

I searched the internet for “doggie acupuncture” and was blessed to find Jeanie Marie Kraft. Belle is the type of dog that violently shakes with fear when she goes to the vet and has to get on a table. Jeanie Marie, on the other hand, came to her.

Belle was treated in her own bed and has been meeting with Jeanie for 7 weeks now. She is in pure heaven when she is having a treatment. She looks forward to it, and has a big smile on her face when I tell her “Jeanie is here”.

The acupuncture has helped her. I no longer give her any medications, rather, we depend on her acupuncture and home treatment that Jeanie Marie has prescribed. You can see the “relief” on Bellie’s face.

I am very grateful that we have had the opportunity to work with Jeanie. Belle is the love of my life, and to see her more relaxed state, her smile, and her pain-free expression when she looks at me is the most wonderful gift I could ever receive.”
Jennifer L.

Belle is the perfect dog to work with. She is well behaved through her entire treatment. I not only use acupuncture on her. I incorporate a laser, infared therapy and Tui na with a Chinese herbal liniment.

To see Belle’s portrait scroll down to this page a few posts.

This checks out on www.snopes
Pass it along to everyone you know who has a dog

“On June 22, 2008 , my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws, Inc., produces. The toy I’m referencing is the pimple ball with bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code #0 4566320227 9). (PLEASE NOTE THAT Four Paws Acupuncture IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH the Four Paws, Inc. who makes this toy.)

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.

Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City ) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed. Because the size of the opening on t he ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth. Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.

By the following morning, Chai’s tongue had swollen even more.

He was taken to his regular vet, Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008 , Chai had his tongue amputated.

He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday, June 29th, I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.

On the way home from the vet we stopped at Petland Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also gave me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products, but I have not called them as of yet.

Additionally, I shared my story with friends who have a French Bulldog named Petunia. Upon hearing my story, their eyes widened. They explained that the same thing happened twice in one night with a smaller version of the same ball to their dog. Fortunately, they were able to pull it off before the tongue swelled, but not without tremendous effort and pain to the dog. They recalled how horrific it was to hear their dog screaming while they had to pry the ball from her tongue.

To date, my veterinary bills total over $5,000 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food because of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.

Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Click to read more of this on www.snopes